Former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed believes that WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner has a dark road ahead of her. Reed was a former Russian prisoner who experienced the Russian court system.
Reed was prosecuted for endangering the “life and health” of the Russian police force in an altercation. He was arrested in 2019 and denied the charges.
The Russian court system sentenced Reed to nine years in prison in 2020. He was held in a labor camp until last April, when the United States arranged a prisoner swap.
Reed claimed, “Once you are convicted in Russian court, you do have a chance to go to appeals, and appeal that decision to another kangaroo court in Moscow.”
Griner pleaded guilty to the charges brought before her, which resulted in a problematic appeal for her legal team.
“So after that trial, you know, depending on Brittney’s decision on whether she wants to appeal or not, she may stay in Moscow at the detention facility that she is already at until her appeals are completed,” Reed said.
“Or if she chooses not to go to appeals, they may transfer her to a forced labor camp,” Reed continued. “Considering the fact that the Russian government is considering exchanging her, they may also decide to leave her in Moscow to make it easier for her to be returned to the United States.”
Reed made clear that the labor camps are no joke and are incredibly dangerous, “facing serious threats to their health” the prisoners suffer.
“I am hoping that there will be an exchange that we are able to get them home, so I am hoping for the best in that,” Reed said about Griner and Paul Whelan, who is also in prison for cannabis charges in Russia.
Griner’s attorney said, “She’s devastated. She is very upset and she’s honestly quite shocked, so she needs to digest what happened today.”
“So nine years, it’s pretty unusual, and it contradicts the existing court practice in Russia,” she claimed. “That’s why we are really disappointed and very much surprised by this decision of the court.”
Griner’s attorney expressed, “as a legal team, we need to do the maximum to get a shorter term. We need to use every legal opportunity that we have, and appeal is one of those opportunities.”
There has been outrage in the states to get the two American citizens back home in a prisoner swap. However, Joe Biden continues to vow to fight to get back Griner as soon as possible.
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